Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ In a powerful display of discontent, thousands of young Nigerians took to the streets on Thursday to protest against the country’s severe cost-of-living crisis, the worst in decades. The demonstrations, spanning multiple cities, met with a forceful response from security forces, who used tear gas in attempts to disperse the crowds.
In the capital city of Abuja, despite a court order late Wednesday restricting protests to a stadium, protesters gathered just kilometers from the Presidential Villa. Here, as in Bauchi and Borno states in the conflict-ridden northeast, police used tear gas to break up the gatherings. There were no immediate reports of arrests.
This outpouring of anger highlights a stark contrast in Nigeria: public officials, often accused of corruption, are among the best compensated in Africa, while the nation, a leading oil producer, struggles with severe poverty and hunger. Protesters and security forces clashed across the country, with some roads blocked by either group. Meanwhile, demonstrations in support of President Bola Tinubu also took place, reflecting a deeply divided public sentiment.
Rights groups and activists have voiced concerns over the potential for a harsh crackdown on dissent. Human Rights Watch recently noted an alarming trend towards stifling protest, raising fears of violence. These concerns were underscored by memories of the deadly 2020 End SARS protests against police brutality and recent violent protests in Kenya over tax hikes.
Businesses nationwide shut their doors on Thursday, wary of potential violence. Protesters, brandishing placards, ringing bells, and waving the green-and-white Nigerian flag, voiced their demands clearly. They called for the reinstatement of gas and electricity subsidies, whose removal under Tinubu’s ambitious economic reforms has driven up prices of nearly all essentials.
“People are fed up and angry because we deserve better,” stated Jude Sochima, a protester in Abuja. The protests, initially planned for 10 days, could extend indefinitely, according to Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate and protest organizer. He vowed they would continue until their demands are met.
The demonstrators also decried the ongoing security crises in the north, a region plagued by conflict that Tinubu had vowed to stabilize during his campaign. Fourteen months into his presidency, both security and economic conditions have not improved and, in some areas, have deteriorated, according to official statistics.
These protests reflect a broader frustration with the unfulfilled promises and harsh realities facing Nigeria’s youth, who are demanding immediate and substantial change.
